Batch Duplicating Group Classes

Last updated: July 8, 2026
Applies to: Owner | Manager
Plus Feature: No

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. When to use Batch Duplicate for group classes
3. Prerequisites
4. How to batch duplicate a group class
5. What gets copied and updated
6. After batch duplicate: set up each group class
7. Batch Duplicate vs. Duplicate
8. Tips
9. Troubleshooting
10. FAQ
11. Related Articles

Overview

Most studios that run group classes repeat the same structure across instruments or programs — same class length, same payment-plan shape, same cancellation and waitlist rules, same enrollment emails. Only the name and wording change. Batch Duplicate takes one fully configured group class service and creates copies of it for as many instruments or programs as you need, replacing a single word — like Guitar — with each new name.

Why: Building each group class from scratch means re-entering the same payment plans, policies, and notification templates over and over, and every manual re-entry is a chance to introduce an inconsistency between classes families are comparing side by side. Batch Duplicate removes that risk — configure it once, correctly, and every variant inherits it.

When to use Batch Duplicate for group classes

Use it once you have a group class service configured the way you want and need parallel services that differ mainly by instrument, level, or program name.

Common examples:

• Guitar Group Class - 45 Mins → Piano, Drums, Voice, Ukulele

• Beginner Guitar Ensemble → Beginner Piano Ensemble, Beginner Drums Ensemble
• Saturday Kids Choir - Level 1 → Level 2, Level 3 (using Level 1 as the find-and-replace key)

Approach	Best for	Why it matters
Batch Duplicate	Creating many related services from one template with find-and-replace	One set-up, many correct copies — no repeated manual entry
Duplicate	Creating one extra copy of a service (appends [copy] to the name)	Fast for a single one-off variation or a test copy
Create from scratch	A service that doesn't resemble any existing template	Avoids carrying over settings that don't apply

Before you batch duplicate, confirm your template is actually ready — Batch Duplicate multiplies whatever is on the template, including mistakes:

• Service type is Group Class, not Appointment
• Cancellation, waitlist, and enrollment window settings are finalized
• Email and SMS notification templates read correctly for the template instrument
• Terms & conditions revision is linked, if required
• Self-booking visibility matches how you intend to publish the new classes

Prerequisites

Requirement	Details
Bookable group class service	The template must be a group class service with booking enabled. Batch Duplicate appears only on services that require booking.
Create services permission	Owner and Manager can batch duplicate. Staff and Limited Staff cannot create or edit services.
A find-and-replace key in the service name	The word you replace (for example, Guitar) must appear in the template service name.
Distinct replacement items	Each item in your list becomes one new service. The reference key cannot also appear in the item list.

Who can batch duplicate

Role	Batch duplicate group classes	Create classes after duplicate	Edit Business / Tuition Policy
Owner	Yes	Yes	Yes
Manager	Yes	Yes	Tuition Policy yes; most General Business Settings view only
Staff	No	Per permissions	No
Limited Staff	No	No	No

How to batch duplicate a group class

1. Open Services

• Go to left hand menu > Gear > Services:
  
  
  

• Find your template group class in list or card view, then click Batch Duplicate on that service row:
  
  
  

2. Enter the item list

In Specify the list of items to duplicate for, add one entry per new service — for example, Piano, Drums, Voice

• Type a value and press Enter, or select a previously used value from the dropdown:
  
  
• You can add up to 49 items in one batch.
• Case matters for item names — Piano and piano produce different service names and tags.

3. Enter the find-and-replace key

In Specify the word to find and replace, enter the exact word in the template service name that each item should replace — for example, Guitar when the template is named Guitar Group Class - 45 Mins:

• The key must appear in the template service name.
• The key cannot also be in the item list.
• Case matters for how names are built, both in the preview and in the saved services.

4. Review the preview

Once the item list and key are valid, the dialog shows the exact new service names — for example:

• Piano Group Class - 45 Mins
• Drums Group Class - 45 Mins
• Ukulele Group Class - 45 Mins

It also summarizes which fields will receive find-and-replace treatment. Fix any validation message shown in red before continuing.

5. Run Batch Duplicate

Click Batch Duplicate. On success, you'll see a Service batch duplicated confirmation and the Services list refreshes with the new services.

What gets copied and updated

Each new service is a full copy of the template with a new ID. It stays a group class service with the same booking, waitlist, duration, and policy settings as the template.

Copied as-is from the template

Area	Notes
Service type	Stays a group class service
Payment plans	All plans copy unchanged — flat-rate, membership-style, Tuition Table, location restrictions, and credit-only plans
Policies	Cancellation, waitlist, enrollment windows, grace periods, drop-in rules
Duration & scheduling	Class duration and service-specific settings
Self-booking & visibility	Hidden/visible settings, spotlight, priority, photos
Terms & conditions	Same revision link as the template; the linked revision's service count increases
Client lifecycle statuses	Statuses applied on book, attend, cancel, waitlist
Staff & location defaults on plans	Preserved on each plan

Updated with find-and-replace

For each item in your list, Opus1.io replaces the reference key with that item in:

Field	Behavior
Service name	Every occurrence of the key is replaced (e.g., Guitar → Piano)
Tags	Matching tag replaced; the new tag value is lowercased
Short and long descriptions	Key replaced (case-insensitive match)
Plan names and descriptions	Key replaced where it appears (case-insensitive match)
Assigned client tags on plans	Key replaced with a sanitized form of the item
Email / notification templates	Key replaced in confirmation, reminder, cancellation, class end, follow-up, usage-credit reminder, terms-acceptance reminder, and automate-conversion templates where text is present

 

Not copied

Item	What to do instead
Classes	Create new classes (terms, dates, capacity) on each duplicated service under Classes
Enrollments / subscriptions	Enroll clients into the new classes once they exist
The template service	Unchanged — Batch Duplicate only creates additional services

After batch duplicate: set up each group class

Batch Duplicate finishes the service layer. For each new group class, complete the usual class workflow:

1. Create classes. Open Classes for each new service and add your terms — for example, "Fall 2026 – Tuesday 4:00 PM" with start/end dates, capacity, and staff. Classes don't copy from the template on purpose: each instrument or program usually has its own schedule and roster even when policies match.
   
   
2. Verify payment plans. Open Payment on each new service and confirm plan names and descriptions read correctly after find-and-replace, Tuition Table plans still point at your business tuition policy, and location restrictions still match where that class runs. See [Setting Up Your Tuition Table] if you use tuition-table billing.
3. Check notifications. Open the Notifications tab and scan templates for leftover instrument names.
4. Publish self-booking. Add each new group class to the appropriate self-booking link or landing page so families can find and enroll. See Using Landing Pages in Opus1.io for promoting multiple class types from one URL.

Batch Duplicate vs. Duplicate

	Batch Duplicate	Duplicate
Number of new services	One per item in your list (up to 49)	One
Naming	Find-and-replace in the template name	Template name + copy
Text updates	Replaces the key across names, descriptions, plans, tags, and templates	No find-and-replace
Typical group-class use	Spin up Piano, Drums, and Voice from one Guitar template	Quick one-off copy for testing or a small variation

Use Batch Duplicate for instrument or program families. Use Duplicate when you need a single extra copy.

Tips

1. Perfect one template first. Batch Duplicate multiplies whatever is on the template, including mistakes.
2. Put the variable word in the service name. Use a consistent token (Guitar, Level 1, Beginner) so find-and-replace stays predictable.
3. Use intentional casing. Piano vs. piano affects display names and tags.
4. Plan for classes separately. Budget time to create terms on each new service — duplication doesn't schedule classes.
5. Spot-check one duplicate. Open Payment and Notifications on the first new service before creating on all of them.
6. Split very large catalogs. If you need more than 49 variants, run multiple batches from the same template.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Likely cause	What to do
Batch Duplicate not visible	Wrong role, or service doesn't require booking	Log in as Owner or Manager; confirm the service is a bookable group class
"Enter a valid reference key…"	Key missing from the template name, or empty key	Use a substring of the template name exactly as typed — case matters
"The reference key cannot be in the item list"	Same word appears in both fields	Remove the key from the item list
Error mentioning 49	Too many items	Run two or more smaller batches
New services exist but no classes show on the calendar	Classes aren't copied	Open Classes on each new service and create terms
Wrong instrument name in an email	Key wasn't present in that template field	Edit the template on the affected service
Batch failed with no new services created	Transient or validation error	Retry; if it persists, try fewer items and contact support

FAQ

Q: Does Batch Duplicate work on appointment services too?
A: Yes — this article covers group classes, but the same tool appears on other bookable services that show Batch Duplicate on the Services page. See Batch Duplicate Your Services to Multiple Instruments for more help.

Q: Will Batch Duplicate change the actual class duration or schedule?
A: No. Batch Duplicate only replaces the word you specify — it doesn't change duration, timing, or any other configuration. If your new instrument needs a different duration, duplicate and edit that separately before batch duplicating it further.

Q: What happens if a duplicate name already matches an existing service?
A: The dialog validates names before you run the batch — fix any conflict shown in red before continuing.

Related Articles

• How-to: Batch Duplicating Your Services For Multiple Instruments — the existing article on this feature for appointment services
• How-To: Using Service Duplication and Batch Duplication To Create Your Services — Duplicate vs. Batch Duplicate
• How do I update multiple services at the same time?
• How do I enroll my clients into session services?
• How do I update my services' cancellation policies?
• Creating Self-Booking Links